Senior Helpers of Portage and Geauga

What aging with dignity means to us...

Growing older on your own terms, in your own home, still treated as the capable and whole person you’ve always been. It means respecting independence. Our caregivers don’t take over. They help where help is needed and step back where it isn’t. If your mother still enjoys folding the laundry or your father wants to make his own morning coffee, we make sure they can keep doing it safely. It means honoring privacy. Personal care is handled with discretion, patience and respect, and our caregivers are trained specifically for those sensitive moments. We knock before entering, ask before helping, and explain what we’re doing. It means listening, and letting our clients’ choices lead. We speak to our clients, not around them. Their preferences guide how their day unfolds, from what they wear to what’s for lunch to when they want to rest. It means purpose and connection. Dignity isn’t only about physical care. It’s conversation, laughter, hobbies, and staying connected to the people and places that matter. We look for ways to keep each day meaningful. And it means being treated like family. We care for every client the way we’d want our own parents cared for: with kindness, respect and a genuine belief that every stage of life deserves to be lived fully.

Our caregivers are...

Carefully selected, thoroughly trained, and genuinely devoted to helping seniors live safely and happily at home.

The care we offer is unique because...

We have owners who are personally involved. We aren’t a large, distant company. Michael and Lynn Jones own and run the agency from our office in Aurora, and they personally interview every caregiver before that person is hired. Families can reach the owners directly. Decisions about your loved one’s care are made locally by people who know them. Caregivers trained in a real-home setting. Our on-site Center of Excellence is set up like a client’s home. Caregivers practice hands-on skills there, such as safe transfers, personal care and home safety, before they ever step into yours. Ongoing training includes our Senior Gems approach to dementia care and Parkinson’s Foundation certification. Clinical oversight with a personal touch. A Registered Nurse supervises our care team. Our supervisors make regular unannounced visits to clients’ homes to confirm the care plan is being followed and that your loved one is comfortable and well cared for. Always available. Our office is reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When something changes, families have a real person to call, any time. A team culture that shows up in the care. We run our agency on servant leadership: we take care of our caregivers so they can take great care of our clients. Through our caregiver mentoring program, new caregivers learn from experienced ones. We also support caregivers who want to grow their careers, including tuition reimbursement toward becoming a State Tested Nursing Assistant. Caregivers who feel valued stay longer, so families see consistent, familiar faces. Local roots. Our caregivers live in the Portage and Geauga County communities we serve. To us, these clients are our neighbors.

Important to remember when caring for someone...

Behind every bit of care is a person who wants to feel seen, valued, and safe — so we lead with compassion in everything we do.

What person-centered care means to us...

The client is the one we build everything around. The schedule, the agency’s convenience and the checklist come second. It starts with listening. Before care begins, we take time to learn who your loved one is. We ask about their daily routines, the foods they enjoy, the stories they love to tell, what makes them anxious and what brings them comfort. That understanding shapes the care plan and the caregiver we choose for them. We look for a match in personality and interests, not just availability. It means your loved one keeps their voice. We encourage clients to make their own choices and to do what they can for themselves, with a helping hand where it’s needed. Our role is to support their independence, not take it away. It means consistency. Wherever possible, the same familiar faces arrive at the door, so trust has room to grow and routines stay steady. It means the plan changes as they change. Our care team and supervising nurse stay involved through regular check-ins and home visits. We talk with families, and we update the care plan as needs evolve rather than letting it sit in a file. And it means dignity in every moment, from personal care to simple conversation. We treat every client the way we’d want our own parents treated: with patience, respect and genuine warmth.

What would you want to know for family member care ...

You are caring for a whole person, not a list of needs on a care plan. We need to also remember that they have a lifetime of stories, preferences, and pride, and that every task should honor who they are.